Collapsible carriage.



c. s. SPOFFORD & H. H. HERIRMANNQ UOLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION fILED MAY 5, 1910.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET l.

anuento w COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, D. c.

C S. SPOFPORD & H. H. HERRMANN.

GOLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1910.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. S. SPOFFORD & H H. HERRMANN.

GOLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE.

APPLIOATION FILED HAYS, 1910.

Patented Dec. 17,1912.

5 SHBETSSHEET 3.

C. S. SPOFFORD & H. H. HERRMANN.

GOLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYfi, 1910.

Pdtented Dec. 17,1912.

5 SHEETSSHBET 4.

Inventor-s rtorney! Mzrnesses. EM il/n g r .1 MW

COLUMIIA PLANOGRAPH 60.,WASH1NU1'ON. D. c.

O. S. SPOPFORD &: H. H. HBRRMANN. GOLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE. APPLICATIONFILED MAY 5, 1910.

Patented Dec. 1'7, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHBBT 5.

w how/4%; U y 2 y I I A mil 4 BIA PLANOORAPH COJWASNINO N B c UNTTEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER S. SPOFFORD AND HARRY I-I. HERRMANN, 0F STURGIS, MICHIGAN,ASSIGNORS TO SIURGIS STEEL GO-CART COMPANY, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN.

COLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

Application filed May 5, 1910. Serial No. 559,475.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHRISTOPHER Srorrono and HARRY H. HERRMANN,citizens of the United States, residing at Sturgis, Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Carriages,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible carriages.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improvedcollapsible carriage having sides which are automatically collapsed onthe collapsing of the carriage.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

We accomplish the'objects of our invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The structure described constitutes one effective embodiment of ourinvention. Other embodiments would be readily devised by' those skilledin the art.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure constituting an effective and preferred embodiment of thefeatures of our invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a structure embodying the features ofour invention, the upper end of the handle being broken away. Fig. 2 isan enlarged detail perspective, showing particularly the mechanism forcollapsing the sides, the parts being shown in their erected position.Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective of the parts shown in Fig. 2 intheir partially collapsed position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail insideperspective, showing the forward end of the seat, and details of thewheel support actuating and bracing means. Fig. 5is an inverted detail,showing portions of the wheel collapsing mechanism and the seat support.Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section through the seat and back, showingthe details of the seat and back and the arrangement of the seatsupporting springs, taken on a line corresponding to line 66 of Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a detail perspective showing the mounting of the dash and theconnections for collapsing it. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspectiveof the seat, the back and one side showing the general relation of theseparts. Fig. 9 is a detail view, partially in section, show-' ing themeans for adjustably supporting the back. Fig. 10 is a detailperspective of a slightly modified construction in which the springs 49are omitted.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the running-gear frame. Thehandle 2 is mounted on the running-gear frame by means of the pivots 3.The wheel supports 4 are preferably formedof rods having downwardlyprojecting wheel carrying arms 5 thereon. The wheel supports arepivotally supported in hangers 6 on the running-gear frame, so that theyare free to swing to permit the folding of the wheels upon each otherunder the running-gear frame.

The wheel supports are erected and collapsed by means of the levers 7,which are pivoted to the running-gear frame at 8. The upper ends ofthese levers 7 are connected by links 10 to the handle. The handle ispivoted to the frame to swing forwardly thereon when the structure iscollapsed, thus swinging the upper end of the levers 7 forwardly. Theselevers 7 project downwardly below their pivots and engage the cammembers 11 on the wheel supports. When the levers are actuated, thewheels are, through the coaction of these cams, collapsed and erected.The levers are locked in their erected position, and the wheel supportsbraced by means of the braces 12 and 13, which are pivoted to therunning-gear frame at 14 and 15, respectively. These braces areconnected to the levers 7 by means of the links 16 and 17, so that theyare actuated through the actuation of the levers. The wheel supports areprovided with clips 18, adapted to receive these braces when the partsare in their erected position.

The seat 19 is carried by the springs 20 disposed at the front and rearof the seat, the springs being mounted on the crosspieces 21 and 22 ofthe running-gear frame. The back 23 is adjustably mounted on the seat tofold forwardly thereon when the structure is collapsed. The supportingmeans for the back illustrated consist of the brackets 24 on the seat,which are slotted at 25 to receive the pivots 26 on the back,

the back being also provided with downwardly-facing segments 27 adaptedto engage the pins 28 on the brackets 24. By this simple mechanism, theback is collapsibly and adjustably supported. All of the weight on theback and seat is carried by the springs 20. We preferably provide theseat with downwardly-projecting arms 29 on which the links 30 arepivoted at 31. The forward ends of the links are secured to therunning-gear frame by the pivots 15.

We provide a dash, having hinged members 35 thereon, through which thepivot rod 36 is arranged. The hinge members 35 are provided withdownwardly-projecting arms 37, which are connected by the links 38 tothe braces 18, so that the dash is collapsed and erected through thecollapsing and erecting of the wheel supports.

The sides of the carriage preferably consist of the lower sections ormembers 89, which are mounted on the runninggear frame by means of themetal straps 40, and the upper sections or members 41, which are hingedas at 42 to the upper edge of the lower sections. The lower sectionspreferably extend the entire length of the body, whlle the uppersections form the sides for the seat, the seat and back being arrangedbetween the sides as clearly appears from the drawing. The uppersections are adapted to fold inwardly on the seat and back when the backis collapsed. This is automatically done by connecting the side membersto the levers 7 for erecting and collapsing the wheel supports. In thestructure illustrated, the connection consists of the links 43, whichare pivoted at 44 to the plates 45 secured to the levers, see Figs. 2and 3. These links 43 are slotted to engage the T-shaped members 46 onthe plates 47 which are secured to the side members 41. The forwardedges of these plates are pref erably bent outwardly to form cam-shapedlever-engaging clips 48 which engage the levers when the parts are intheir erected position, so that the levers serve as braces or supportsfor the side members, the structure thus being made quite rigid whenerected. On the plates 47 are springs 49 having shoulders 50 whichengage the upper ends of the links 43, the links acting in collapsingthe structure on these springs, so that in the event of the back notbeing collapsed before the collapsing of the carriage, the spring 49yields, allowing the collapsing of the handle and wheel supports, andpermitting the side members to remain in their erected position, thusavoiding injury to the connection. This structure thus comprises a slipjoint. When the parts are in their erected position, the plates 45 closebehind the links, as illustrated in Fig. 2. By thus arrangingand'connecting the parts, the carriage is entirely collapsed with theexception of the back, merely by the collapsing of the handle upon therunning-gear frame.

The carriage is collapsed by collapsing the back forwardly upon the seatand releasing the lock and then grasping the for ward end of therunning-gear frame and the upper end of the handle and bringing themtogether.

In the modified structure shown in Fig. 10, the springs 49 are omitted.This structure does not possess the feature of the automatic collapsingof the side members but they are. automatically erected.

e have illustrated and described our improvements in detail in the formin which we have embodied them in practice. We are, however, aware thatthey are capable of considerable variation in structural details withoutdeparting from our invention, and we desire to be understood as claimingthe same specifically in the form illustrated, as well as broadly withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire toSecure by Letters Patent is:

v 1. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the runninggearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; sides comprisinglower sections mounted on said running-gear frame and upper sectionshinged to said lower sections; and means for automatically collapsingand erecting the said upper side sections comprisingrearwardly-projecting plates on said wheel support-actuating levers,links pivotally mounted on said plates, the upper ends of said linksbeing longitudinally slot-ted, plates on said upper sections havingT-shaped members thereon engaged in said slots of said links, theforward edges of said plates being oflset to provide cam-1ike clipsadapted to engage said wheel support-actuating levers when the parts arein their erected position; andsprings mount ed on said plates on saidupper side sections, v

having shoulders thereon adapted to normally engage the upper ends ofsaid links.

2. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the running-gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; sides comprisinglower sections mounted on said runninggear frame and upper sectionshinged to said lower sections, and means for automatically collapsingand erecting the said upper side sections comprisingrearwardlyprojecting plates on said wheel-support-actuating levers,links pivotally mounted on said plates, the upper ends of said linksbeing longitudinally slotted, plates on said upper side sections having.T-shaped members thereon engaged in said slots of said links,

and springs mounted on said plates on said upper side sections, havingshoulders thereon adapted to normally engage the upper ends of saidlinks.

3. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the runningear frame,of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheel supportspivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; hinged side members; andmeans for automatically collapsing and erecting said side memberscomprising links pivotally connected to said levers, the upper ends ofsaid links being longitudinally slotted, plates on said side membershaving T-shaped members thereon enga-ged in said slots of said links,the forward edges of said plates being off-set to provide cam-like clipsadapted to engage said wheel support-actuating levers when the parts arein their erected position, and springs mounted on said plates on saidside members adapted to normally engage the upper ends of said links.

4:. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the running-gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; hinged sidemembers; and means for automatically collapsing and erecting said sidemembers comprising links pivotally connected to said levers, the upperends of said links being longitudinally slotted, plates on said sidemembers having T-shaped members thereon engaged in said slots of saidlinks, and springs mounted on said plates on said side members adaptedto normally engage the upper ends of said links.

5. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the runnin -gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; sides comprisinglower sections mounted on said runninggear frame and upper sectionshinged to aid lower sections; and means for actuating the said upperside sections comprising links pivotally connected to said levers, theupper ends of said links being longitudinally slotted, members on saidupper side sections engaged in said slots in said links, and camlikeclips adapted to engage said wheel-sup port actuating levers when theparts are in their erected position.

6. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the running gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; sides comprisinglower sections mounted on said runninggear frame and upper sectionshinge-d to said lower sections; and actuating connections for saidlevers to the said upper side sections comprising links pivotallyconnected to said levers, the upper ends of said links beinglongitudinally slotted, and members on said upper side sections engagedin said slots in said links.

7 In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the running-gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said Wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; a seat; a backmounted to fold forwardly on said seat; hinged side members; and meansfor actuating said side members, comprising a connection with a slipjoint for said levers to said side members adapted to permit the foldingof said wheels independently of said side members when said side membersare forcibly retained in their erected position.

8. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the running-gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; a seat; a backmounted to fold forwardly on said seat; hinged side members; and meansfor automatically collapsing and erecting said side members, comprisinglinks pivot-ally connected to said levers and having a connection with aslip joint wit-h said side members, and springs arranged to receive thecollapsing thrust of said links.

9. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the running-gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; hinged sidemembers; and means for actuating said side members comprising aconnection with a slip joint for said levers to said side memberswhereby said levers may be actuated to collapse said wheelsindependently of said side members when said side members are forciblyretained in their erected position.

10. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the running-gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; hinged sidemembers; and means for actuating said side members comprising linkspivotally connected to said levers and having a slip connection withsaid side members, and springs arranged to receive the collapsiblethrust of said links.

11. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the running-gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; sides comprisinglower sections mounted on said running-gear frame and upper sectionshinged to said lower sections; a seat; a back mounted to fold forwardlyon said seat between said sides; a pivotally-supported dash; connectionsfor said dash to said wheel support-actuating levers whereby said dashis automatically collapsed and erected on the collapsing and erecting ofsaid wheel supports; and connections for said levers to said uppersections; whereby said side sections are actuated? through the actuationof said wheel support; actuating levers.

12. In a collapsible carriage, the comb-ina- 'tion with the running-gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted on said running-gear frame; sides comprising;lower sections mounted on said running-gear frame and upper sectionshinged tosaidi lower sect-ions; a seat; a back mounted to. foldforwardly on said seat between said sides; and connections for saidlevers to said upper sections whereby said side sec-I tions are actuatedthrough the actuation of said wheel-support actuating levers.

13. In a collapsible carriage, the combina-v tion with the running-gearframe, of col-; lapsible wheel supports; levers for actuating said wheelsupports pivotally mounted onsaid running-gear frame; sides comprisinglower sections mounted on said running gear frame and upper sections.hinged to. said lower sections; a pivotally-supported dash; connectionsfor said dash to said wheel support-actuating levers whereby said dashis actuated on the collapsing and erecting of said wheel supports; andconnections for said levers to said upper sections whereby said sidesections are actuated through the actuation of said wheelsupport-actuating levers.

14. In a collapsible carriage, the combination with the running-gearframe, of collapsible wheel supports; means for actuating said wheelsupports; a seat; collapsible side members therefor; and meanscomprising a slip joint for automatically collapsing and erecting saidside members on the collapsing and erecting of the said wheel supports,comprising a yielding connection to said ,means for actuating said wheelsupports whereby said wheel supports may be col.- lapsed independentlyof said side members Copies of this patent may be obtained for when saidside members are forcibly retained in their erected position.

15. In a collapsible carriage, the combination of the running-gearframe; collapsible wheel supports; a seat; collapsible side memberstherefor; and means for automatically erecting said side members 011 theerecting of said wheel supports comprising a link having a stud and slotconnection with said side members.

16. In a collapsible carriage, the combination of the running-gearframe; collapsible wheel supports; a seat; collapsible side memberstherefor; and means comprising a slip joint for automatically erectingsaid side members on the erecting of said wheel supports comprising alost motion connection to said means for actuating said wheel supportswhereby said wheel supports may be'collaps-ed independently of said sidemembers when said side members are forcibly retained in their erectedposition.

17. In a collapsible carriage, the combination wit-h the running-gearframe, of a seat; a back for said seat mounted to be collapsed forwardlythereon; a handle pivotally connected to said frame to fold forwardlythereon; side members adapt-ed to collapse inwardly; and connectionscomprising a slip joint for said side members to said handle adapted toautomatically collapse and erect said side members'on the collapsing anderecting of said handle, said connection being arranged to permit thecollapsing of said handle independently of said side members when saidside members are forcibly retained in their erected position.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals in thepresence of two 85 witnesses.

WVitnesses J. W; BENNETT, E. M. PARKER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,I). G.

